Orchard, Ewing Meet To Restart Conversation On Reorganization

Common ground was eventually discovered Wednesday night as school boards from Ewing and Orchard met to discuss future options. Although no commitment was made, both sides indicated they want to continue talks.

With a round-table feel, the board members and school administrators faced one another during the 68-minute meeting rather than the audience in an effort to open the conversation toward a goal of working together, potentially to become one school in the future. Although the meeting was between Orchard and Ewing, including Clearwater with a potential reorganization, was part of the conversation by both schools.

Pete Funk of Ewing wasted little time in telling Orchard that Ewing was ready to consolidate with Clearwater but felt Orchard created a “perfect triangle” for a three-school merger.

“I wanted to invite you to consolidation with us and Clearwater. As you guys know, we’re going to pursue them anyway. We’re going to do something. We don't want you left out. We’ve been trying to get three all along,” he said. “We knew Neligh wasn’t a good fit, but we had to listen to it. You guys are a perfect fit, and the mileage between the three schools is almost a perfect triangle. I don’t know how you can do any better than that.”

Among the key topics discussed were unification vs. consolidation, constructing a new school, sports co-ops and a potential timeline.

Unification vs. Consolidation
Ewing immediately used the term consolidation, and members said they were not interested in joining the Nebraska Unified District #1, which consists of Orchard, Ewing and Verdigre. Orchard’s board appeared blindsided by Ewing’s lack of interest in unification, having spent much of their last board meeting discussing the benefits of expanding the Unified District to include Ewing.

Orchard members repeatedly attempted to steer the conversation back to unification. Midway through the meeting, Terri Hergert, who represents Orchard on the Unified Board, asked Ewing point-blank, “What do we have to say to help sell you on that?”

Funk was equally as candid, “You have to be a good saleswoman to convince me.”

Board members agreed there were really two differences between unification and consolidation. One — consolidation would be between Orchard, Ewing and Clearwater while unification could include Orchard, Ewing, Clearwater and Verdigre. Two - consolidation is permanent and unification is fluid since the state requires only a 3- to 7-year commitment.

While they agreed on what the differences are, those remained the sticking points during discussion. Ewing does not support including Verdigre, and Orchard is hesitant on the permance of consolidation.

Orchard voiced its loyalty to Verdigre, which had several board members in the audience Wednesday night. Funk said because of the taxbase, Orchard stakeholders pay about 20 cents toward Verdigre’s general fund through unification, and he doesn’t favor continuing that. DeAnna Clifton said Orchard benefits from the agreement with Verdigre with educational opportunities for students.

Orchard also offers similar financial support to Clearwater, and board members agreed that valuations have shifted over the years. Although they were more equal when unification was adopted nearly 20 years ago, Orchard now makes up about half of the taxbase, leaving Clearwater and Verdigre at around 25 percent each.

New Cornfield School
The other key issue was the permanance of consolidation. Funk said if Ewing consolidates with Clearwater, they likely will not build a new school. However, with a three-school merger, he said a cornfield school would eliminate conflict between which town will house specific grades. Among the figures thrown out was an estimated $32 million for construction.

Hergert questioned why one option kept the schools in respective communities as compared to a new school with the other option. Funk said he believes tax dollars would be less with a new school and said it would lower the levy by 20 cents to build a new school. Hergert asked if that included the bond payment, and Funk said no. The bond payment would take that 20 cents, making it a wash financially for the first 20 years.

Orchard’s Kristi Schutt said she’s not against consolidation, but questioned if there could be smaller steps rather than taking a leap. Schutt said she’s not asking to wait 10 years; she’s asking to take steps to see if the schools work well together.

“Let’s build into this. Not saying you have to join the unification, but let’s try to work that. Then by 2020, let’s be looking at maybe this will work, and maybe this will work and we need to consolidate,” Schutt said.

She added that Orchard has been through rushed conversations before. “That’s why we’re all hesitant of it. I think we would rather take little steps and work our way into it,” she said.

When site location was brought up, Orchard’s Nate Schwager immediately said that should not be discussed until Clearwater board members could be present to voice opinion. Funk said he would suggest “the most neutral place.” A school at the intersection of Summerland Road and the Orchard Road has long been the site location commonly discussed.

Hergert asked if the site location could be in the middle of a district that included Verdigre as well. Ewing's Jason Schindler shook his head and said he lives 16 miles south of Ewing.

Mark Ramold added, “When something finally does happen, and I feel it will, I would rather send our kids five, six or seven miles to a school rather than 20 miles. I feel if we don’t start on the road to do something, the latter will happen, rather than the former.”

Sports Co-op
Schutt suggested a sports co-op would be step forward in this process. Schinder said the junior high teams currently co-op, and that is a baby step in his mind. Schutt asked if they could consider a high school co-op.

Orchard and Clearwater are currently in the first of the two-year football cycle, as is Ewing with Chambers/Wheeler Central. Orchard and Clearwater also co-op other sports but are on opposite cycles, meaning they have to contact the state soon to continue co-oping those sports. Orchard, Clearwater and Ewing could potentially co-op all high school sports, except football, as soon as next year.

“I just think if you’re truly committed to it, the sooner you get the kids together, the better,” Orchard President Candice Hoke said. “I don’t mean to always lead with sports, but if it’s something we’re all committed to, and that’s where we’re going to go, then let’s start doing what we can do. . . . If that’s the intent, then let’s start doing more.”

Time Frame
Funk said his time frame is “the sooner the better,” but he said consolidation could wait until 2020, which is when the current unification agreement either concludes or will be renewed.

However, that’s simply the agreement end date. Orchard, Clearwater and Verdigre must notify the state on how they will proceed with unification by November 2019.  

Funk said discussion of a merger between the three schools has been going on since February 2016, so “this has been out there quite a while.”

Considering a new school would require a bond, Schwager asked Ewing what their Plan B would be if the bond fails.

“We’re sitting at Plan B right now waiting for the other shoe to drop,” Ramold said.

Unified District Superintendent Dale Martin said the bond would have to pass in all districts to move forward with construction of a new school. When asked if consolidation is contingent on building a new school, Funk said it is to him.

The boards agreed that the next step would be more meetings, though not only between these two schools. Orchard said they owed Verdigre a meeting to discuss the future since they are part of the unification. The boards said including Clearwater in future merger talks was also key.

Hoke said the possibilities are exciting for the schools.

“I’m very glad you came over. I think this long overdue,” she said. “There are a lot of questions, but we’re very excited about opportunities. We hope to meet again.”